Movement assistance system for a storage bin

Abstract

A method and apparatus for assisting movement of a bin into a closed position. An assistance system associated with the bin may be activated in response to a manipulation of a switch associated with the bin. The assistance system may comprise a biasing system and a switch. The biasing system may be configured to generate a force in a direction towards a closed position for the bin. A switch may be connected to the biasing system and configured to activate the biasing system when a selected amount of weight is present in the bin. The force in the direction towards the closed position for the bin may be generated in response to activating the assistance system.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for moving a bin, the method comprising:
 rotating an elongate member configured for: releasing a pawl, and activating a biasing unit connected to the bin, such that the bin remains movable when the pawl remains engaged with a ratchet and the biasing unit remains inactive; and 
 activating the biasing unit and generating a force moving the bin toward a closed position by applying a force from the biasing unit against a cam and moving the biasing unit away from an opening of the bin. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving a selected amount of weight in the bin, the selected amount of weight being sufficient to overcome the biasing unit generating a force pulling the pawl against the ratchet, the pawl being connected to the biasing unit. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 moving the bin toward the closed position via rotating the bin about a pivot; and 
 a housing retaining the bin and comprising the pivot. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein releasing the pawl further comprises releasing the pawl from engagement with the ratchet, the ratchet being connected to a carriage connected to the biasing unit. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cam is connected to a housing, the housing retaining the bin. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a distance for the cam to the opening of the bin being less than a distance from a pivot, in a housing retaining the bin, to the opening of the bin. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein activating the biasing unit comprises releasing the pawl from engagement with the ratchet. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein releasing the pawl comprises activating a switch configured for rotating the elongate member and overcoming a spring biasing the pawl to engage the ratchet. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising resetting to an off position, a switch configured for rotating the elongate member, when moving the bin to the closed position. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising storing energy in the biasing unit when the bin is moved from the closed position to an open position, wherein the energy is used to move a bearing member. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising the spring being a gas spring. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a cam mounting being higher on a housing than a pivot mounting, the housing retaining the bin. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising engaging the pawl with the ratchet when moving the bin toward an open position. 
     
     
       14. A method of generating a force moving a bin toward a closed position, the method comprising:
 providing a force from a biasing unit for pressing the biasing unit against a cam connected to a housing, the housing retaining the bin; 
 restraining: the force from the biasing unit, and the force moving the bin toward the closed position, by engaging a ratchet with a pawl such that the bin may be moved toward the closed position without activating the biasing unit; 
 rotating an elongate member connected to the pawl and thus, when a selected weight is present in the bin, rotating the pawl and thus releasing the ratchet from engagement with the pawl; and 
 the biasing unit pushing against the cam and thus rotating the bin, toward the closed position, about a pivot. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the biasing unit being connected to a carriage connected to the biasing unit. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the pawl being connected to the biasing unit and spring biased to engage the ratchet. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the biasing unit being connected to the bin. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the selected weight being based upon an energy stored in the biasing unit producing a force pulling the pawl into engagement with the ratchet. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the cam and the pivot each being mounted on a side of the housing with the cam being higher than the pivot and closer to an opening of the bin. 
     
     
       20. A method for providing a force for assisting movement of a bin, the method comprising:
 activating the force by activating a switch configured to release, when the bin contains a selected weight, a ratchet from a pawl thus moving a biasing unit away from an opening of the bin and rotating the bin about a pivot, the pivot being connected to a housing retaining the bin, the pawl being spring biased to engage the ratchet and connecting to the biasing unit at a first location on the biasing unit, the ratchet connecting to the biasing unit at a second location on the biasing unit via a carriage, such that the bin remains movable when the ratchet remains engaged with the pawl.